Deals to Develop Fuel Cell Vehicle

Published: March 31, 2005

General Motors and DaimlerChrysler have signed agreements with the Department of Energy to develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles over the next five years, the companies said Wednesday.

G.M. plans to build a fleet of 40 hydrogen-fuel vehicles. Under the program, G.M. will spend $44 million to distribute the vehicles in Washington, New York, California and Michigan. The Energy Department will also provide $44 million in the deal, which is set to expire in September 2009.

DaimlerChrysler, which has the largest fleet of fuel cell vehicles of any automaker, will invest more than $70 million in its partnership with the Energy Department, the company said.

Under the agreement, DaimlerChrysler will place fuel cell vehicles with consumers, who will report on the performance of the vehicles. The company said that it was already testing 100 fuel cell vehicles in various places around the world.